Play about famous Bama coach coming to Birmingham

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - It's been more than 26 years since legendary University of Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant leaned up against the goal posts at Legion Field in Birmingham.

But the story of the dirt poor Arkansas farm boy who became a college football icon is coming to Birmingham.

Officials with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival are announcing Monday that they will stage the play "Bear Country" from Aug. 6 through Aug. 20 at the Virginia Samford Theatre.

The play by ASF's chief operating officer Michael Vigilant is going on the road to Birmingham after playing to mostly sold-out audiences during a five-week run at ASF's Octagon Theatre in Montgomery in January and February.